Intermediate/Advanced Java 8

This Intermediate/Advanced Java 8 training class This is a fast-paced course suitable for developers with some previous experience in working with Java and Object-Oriented (OO) programming can be delivered to developers experienced in other OO languages (Python, C++, C#) but with limited Java exposure as well as used as an advanced Java course for more experienced developers. There are numerous optional parts allowing you to tailor the coverage to your group.

It includes an accelerated, yet thorough hands-on review of Java foundational concepts, with attention given to OO design and implementation principles. It then moves on to comprehensive coverage of more advanced topics in Java and OO development to provide participants with a strong grounding to use Java in a sophisticated and productive manner.

This course covers far more than an introductory course, including important topics such as UML and Design Patterns, and using composition vs. inheritance, which are all key to creating well-structured OO systems. After these important areas, it moves on to advanced Java topics such as inner classes, reflection, writing generic classes, and functional programming with lambdas and streams. It teaches a number of useful techniques that enhance productivity and good system design - which may otherwise take Java developers years to absorb on their own. The course concludes with build tools and logging.

Unit testing is stressed throughout the course, with most labs implemented as JUnit tests.

Although the course is designed to be delivered in its entirety, it can be customized to fit your needs. Be prepared to work hard and learn a great deal!

All labs are done with the Eclipse IDE Java EE version, and the lab instructions include detailed directions for using it.

Goals

Solidify Java foundational knowledge, including the important contracts of class Object

Understand the uses and consequences of inheritance and composition, and reinforce the role of interfaces

Reinforce fundamental OO principles such as cohesion, coupling, and polymorphism

Use the JUnit testing framework and become fluent in writing assertions to verify correct program behavior

Familiarity with UML modeling in class diagrams and sequence diagrams

Use advanced techniques for object creation, including factories and singletons

Use established design patterns for object composition, including Strategy, Decorator, and Facade

Write and use generic classes and methods

Learn the use cases for inner classes and refactor existing code to use them when appropriate

Create and use custom annotations

Be familiar with reflection and how to use it

Understand the role of functional interfaces introduced in Java 8

Understand lambda expressions and method references, and use them to pass behavior (methods)

Use the Stream API to perform complex processing of collections and other input sources

Learn the new Date/Time API and use it to solve date-oriented business problems

Use Javadoc to write professional-grade API comments for your classes

Understand build tools such as Ant and Maven, and how to manage application dependencies